organizing tips » XOXOrganizing

10 Pantry Tips

April 3, 2017 by XOXOblog in 10 Things, Kitchen, Tips

If your pantry feels overloaded, try these ideas to make it feel a little more roomy:

Remove the items that are expired.
Remove the items that your family will never eat.
Hang a pantry door-rack, if possible.
Relocate things like cookbooks, recipes and magazines.
Relocate other things that don’t absolutely need to be in the pantry.
Remove bulk items like flour, sugar, etc.
Remove pet foods and treats.
Only keep FOOD in your pantry- no lunch bags, napkins, paper towels, etc.
Adjust or add extra shelves, if possible.
Add roll-out drawers, if possible.

[ VIDEO ] Best Calendar Practices

October 26, 2015 by XOXOblog in Calendaring, Productivity, Tips

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How to Find What You’re Looking for… in 10 Seconds

August 31, 2015 by XOXOblog in Self Organization, Taking Care of YOU, Tips

The number one client complaint is, “I can’t always find what I’m looking for.”

I have a suggestion on how to find anything and everything in 10 seconds (or less)!

STEP 1: Before you buy something and bring it home, think of where it will live once you get it there. A good way to find a place for everything is to think of other like-items you might have that are already stored in your home. For example, you might want to store your extra shampoos and conditioners with loofas and extra soaps.

STEP 2: When you buy the item and bring it into your home, put it away immediately. Don’t let things pile up or you’ll be overwhelmed later.

STEP 3: Be sure you have a mental inventory of your cabinets, drawers and closets by actively making it a priority to open doors and drawers so you always know what you have. This will keep you from buying multiples of things.

Before and After: Storage Closet

August 10, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization, Testimonials

BA Storage Closet

Sometimes organizing a space in your home seems overwhelming because you might not have the right tools to get organized. I want to share this story on how sometimes you need someone to help you organize and sometimes you can do it yourself- as long as you have the right tools.

A client hired me to organize her home. We organized until our time was up for the day, but we hadn’t even started on her storage closet. Instead of making another appointment, I gave her the task of organizing her storage closet. I told her to buy a shelf and what my vision was and she did it herself and did an A+ job!

If you notice- the BEFORE picture looks a little overwhelming. However, after she had the tools she needed, everything came together perfectly! Remember, not everything has to have the perfect color bin in order to be functional. Sometimes you don’t need to spend extra money on bins, you can just use what you have.

Here’s the Yelp review she wrote for me a few months later…

Sara with XOXO Organizing is AMAZING! She not only helped me organize my closet — but my life too! She was such a blast to work with, it didn’t feel like we were working, just friends hanging out and getting organized! I hired Sara about 3 months ago, and my life and closet have been so much better ever since! She gave me tips and taught me things as we went along, and I now have such an easier time staying organized. If you need help getting your house (or life, really!) in order, call Sara ASAP — I am so thankful that I did, best money I have spent in a LONG time….worth every penny! Thanks, Sara!

– Natalie Y., Irvine, CA

10 Dos and Don’ts of Organizing

July 6, 2015 by XOXOblog in General Organizing, Self Organization

DON’T organize if you’re feeling emotional. DO wait until you’re feeling calm and motivated! Being calm ensures you don’t make any hasty decisions.
DON’T move from room to room as you organize. DO keep clutter contained to the room you’re organizing in. Bouncing around from room to room will wear you out and waste time. Have separate bags for donation, trash and items to distribute to other rooms. Once you’re done organizing a room, you can take each bag directly to where it needs to go.
DON’T expect to finish organizing your whole house in one day. DO give yourself a reasonable time limit. Set an alarm on your phone and anything that’s left over can temporarily wait until next time.
DON’T buy bulk items when you don’t have the space. DO spend the extra money each month to keep your sanity- and extra space in your cabinets.
DON’T keep essential items in a limited access area. DO make sure the things you use most are the most accessible to you and your family.
DON’T hold on to items you know you’ll never use. DO donate the items to a charity that’s close to your heart.
DON’T have more than one place for like-items. DO keep like-items together at all times. When organizing, think of your house like a grocery store. The things that belong together should be kept together- just like your local market.
DON’T organize one time and think it’s going to last you and your family a lifetime. DO re-evaluate your space, at least, twice each year. Your life will change, your mind will change, your space should too.
DON’T buy bins without lids just because you don’t need them at the moment. DO think about long-term storage and the possibility of needing to switch things up later. When it comes to containers, it’s always good to leave your options open and give yourself room to grow.
DON’T go to bed without putting things away. DO make a game out of it. Set an egg timer for 15 minutes and every night, the whole family plays, “Hurry up, get organized!”